A consecrated life must depict charisma - Rome-based lecturer

A theologian on Consecrated Life cum lecturer at the Rome Pontifical Urban University, Sr. Gloria Wirba, has reminded Consecrated People in Buea Diocese that Consecrated Life means to be Christ-like.

Sr. Wirba, a Tertiary Franciscan Sister was speaking on recently at St. Anthony Parish Buea Town during a meeting of Consecrated People in Buea Diocese on “The challenges of the African Consecrated People”

She said while it is true that apostolic activity for Institutes of Apostolic Life is essential, it is also true that this form of life cannot be reduced to mere services in the Church.

She noted that the first challenge African Religious are facing today consists of identifying and subsequently implementing their founding charism in the present socio-cultural context. Sr. Wirba said multiplying diocesan institutes for their own sake could be a counter witness.

She underscored the importance of institutional charisms and noted that it raises critical problems for a majority of African indigenous congregations as most of them were founded in the same way like schools by people who do not understand Consecrated Life and therefore cannot live it. “This often leads to a crisis of identity among members,” she stressed.

Not being members of institutes they founded, some do not present themselves as concrete models for members and this makes it difficult for members to understand their charism if there is any, she explained.

Sr. Wirba urged Religious Institutes to strive to be self–reliant and for the need to update formation programmes, choose competent formators, and adequate structures to help their members discover and live their charisms.

Seven congregations were represented in the meeting in which members also discussed the upcoming celebration of the Year for Religious which Pope Francis has decreed.